1st Term ~ Week 2. ⚓🚢

Week 2! Already!
Oh god! These days really fly by so fast that I do not get the time to post anything… ok ok, I probably do not take the time either. 😇
We discharged in Klaipeda and Riga and that went pretty fast: harbour in, alongside, discharge 2000t, harbour out, sail 20 hours, habour in, alongside, discharge the rest of the soja bean meal 1000t, harbour out. This is what usually happens. And it keeps you nicely busy 🙂

I am glad I think I came quickly back into ship routine, getting used to the marad jobs (maintenance program) and anticipating the routes and voyage plannings as far as I can.. which means pretty much a couple of days only before arriving into the harbour – if we are lucky. 😉 And as you know I really do not like to be caught up and stressed last minute… Most probably because I was well trained the past years with « whatever I can do at sea I do at sea » not to have more time for unforeseen jobs in the harbour but mainly to enjoy as much as possible « time in the harbour »…

Well, I can tell you right now that « time in the harbour » on a sailing vessel in the Caribbean and on a general cargo vessel in the Baltic is not exactly the same…. Unfortunately, corona times do not make it easier when you would want to stretch your legs for an hour walk ashore…. anyways you gotta make yourself a reason: there is never time enough for it.
This is why sails or no sails, I would still rather do as much as possible at sea than in harbour to enjoy the view or the only crew moments when we are all together.
And trust me the swim calls are still worth it! The freakin’ cold water (3degrees Celsius in the bay of Bothnia! -yes yes we did go for a swim in Sundsvall. Sweden 🇸🇪 ! 🥶) makes you feel alive and kicking and I love that! 🙂
It is nice to be back on board and there has not been a day yet in which I didn’t have fun✌🏻Everything can become a party 🎉 if you make it such!

Our Lupine seeds turn out to be growing by the day. Sometimes I have the feeling I see the leaves growing when staring at them 🌱 it is turning out into a Lupine Forrest! 🙂 and should probably be soon thinking of changing the pot to a bigger one for all 50 seeds….

The highlight of our arrival in Sundsvall… we didn’t need a pilot or linesmen so he captain decided to train us in mooring the vessel alongside, between to other vessels!! It was super cool! So there we were; the engineer, trainee, one of the AB’s who also wanted and myself bringin the vessel alongside and back out for the next on! It was a great moment! And no… I didn’t crash as expected 😜Captain Harry also left me in the bridge and took my place for the actual mooring. That was a great experience and made me so happy! 🤩 an awesome way of ending this second week onboard! Thank you!!

I hope you are doing well on land, take care and see you next week!!
Sopietje 💚💙✌🏻⚓️🚢